SIMMERING tensions between MasterChef: The Professionals' finalists, Sarah Knights and Rhett Willis over the latter's inflated ego and polarising personality has set the scene for a boilover in this Sunday night's ultimate showdown.

The chalk and cheese pair, along with WA surfer Rhys Badcock, will compete for the Channel 10 series MasterChef The Professionals title, after three months of filming and kitchen campaigning.

Victorian chef Michael Demagistris tripped at the last hurdle, eliminated tonight during a pop up restaurant service challenge where two teams of two were tasked with creating a themed eatery from scratch.

Demagistris was sent home for re-serving a lemongrass pannacotta he had pitched to the judges before (and failed to execute to their exacting standards the second time around).

But it has been Willis' "lone wolf" approach which has been lambasted by the competition's last woman standing, Knights who made not-so subtle digs at her Queensland-based rival and his "egotistical'' attitude to their TV teammates.

The Sydney sous chef won fan plaudits for her focussed but fair conduct in making it to the finale without upsetting rivals or using her immunity pin to undermine others.

Michael DemagistrisSource:Supplied

Knights said, despite being mentored by the famously explosive Marco Pierre White, what she learned was how "unnecessary it was to be egotistical (in the kitchen), especially in team challenges.''

In an obvious swipe at Willis, who barked orders and got offside with many of his MasterChef cohorts, Knights said "being a good chef is not just about cooking, it's about getting the best out of the people around you. Some people don't respond to being screamed at and humiliated. Some people just need a little nurturing.''

Brushing aside criticism, Willis told News Limited his TV appearance was "just the PG-version'' of his personality and he wasn't about to change it.

"Everybody I ran into on the street said I gave Luke a hard time, but it was one line. You should hear what I tell people on a day-to-day basis ... it's 10 times worse than the show'' he said.

"I got to where I got by doing what I do and I didn't change a lot. I must have been doing something right,'' the cocky cook added.

In a telling pop quiz included in the show's finale press kit, each contestant was asked to choose an ingredient which best described them.

Cheeky Badcock nominated an egg "because I enjoy getting laid;'' Knights said a truffle "because I'm a rare find;'' while Willis associated himself with chilli "you can either love or hate it.''

Meanwhile, female chefs flagbearer Knights revealed the man who made Gordon Ramsay cry also reduced her to tears during the series.

Intimidated by her "food hero,'' she admitted "everything Marco said I took to heart. Sometimes that threw me a little and I got upset. There were tears and he knew all I wanted was not to disappoint him and make myself proud.''

Matt Preston says: "his has been a rollercoaster of a ride as he skitters from culinary triumph to kitchen tragedy. Does he have the self belief to win and can he resist the temptation to try and attempt the impossible again?''

RHYS BADCOCK, 29 WA/NSW

Matt Preston says: "going into the final momentum is with him and now he looks like a legitimate contender. We know he can cook very well if given instruction or a recipe but can he step up and run the kitchen for a service challenge?''

SARAH KNIGHTS, 27 NSW

Matt Preston says: "she marked herself as a favourite to win this competition in the early weeks and she has maintained the pace to still be there in the final three. She rightfully must be seen as the favourite to take the crown.''